The Tigers have lost three straight and four of five after a five-game winning streak that briefly lifted them into first place in the AL Central.

Sanchez, acquired from Miami earlier in the week along with infielder Omar Infante, gave up five runs and eight hits in six-plus innings in his Detroit debut.

Sanchez (5-8 overall) lost to Toronto for the second time this season; he gave up six runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 12-5 loss on June 22 while pitching for the Marlins.

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Henderson Alvarez (7-7) pitched seven innings for the win.

Encarnacion hit his 28th home run and Rasmus went 2 for 3 with three RBIs in his first start of the season at designated hitter.

Facing Detroit for the first time, Alvarez (7-7) allowed one run and five hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Alvarez’s only walks were issued consecutively, to Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in the sixth, but Delmon Young and Brennan Boesch both flied out to end the threat.

J.A. Happ worked the final two innings for Toronto.

Rasmus drove in Toronto’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the third. Detroit tied it in the fourth when Young hit a two-out single and Boesch followed with a double to center, the only extra-base hit allowed by Alvarez.

The Blue Jays reclaimed the lead in the bottom half when Encarnacion led off with an opposite-field drive to right.

Escobar, who returned to the lineup after missing the past three games with a sore back, made it 3-1 with a leadoff homer to center in the sixth, his seventh.

The Blue Jays chased Sanchez and padded their lead in the seventh. Rajai Davis doubled and stole third before Rasmus ended Sanchez’s outing by hitting his 18th homer.

NOTES: Blue Jays OF Jose Bautista swung a bat before the game, the first time he’s done so since injuring his left wrist July 16 at New York. Bautista is eligible to come off the 15-day DL on Aug. 1, but manager John Farrell said Bautista will likely need a few more days to recover. ... Toronto’s Adam Lind (back) missed his second straight game. ... Attendance was 41,832.